Foot Drop – the cause, symptoms and treatments

                                                                  

Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, you may drag or bump the front of your foot on the ground when you walk. Foot drop in itself is not a disease but rather a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem.

Some of the common reasons patients present with foot drop include stroke, spinal cord injury or injury to the peroneal nerve on the outside of the fibula, below the knee. ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis can also lead to foot drop. Patients who have had a total knee replacement can also present with foot drop, although that is less likely.

In a normal walking gait cycle, the toes pull up from the floor so a person avoids tripping on them. The toes of foot drop patients point down and strike the floor first, with their ankle flapping as they move the foot. They may develop a steppage or marching walking gait, raising their thigh when walking in a motion similar to climbing the stairs to avoid striking the front of their foot against the ground. Another coping mechanism is raising the leg and slightly bending at the knee to prevent the foot from dragging along the ground. Other gaits such as a wide outward leg swing (to avoid lifting the thigh excessively or to turn corners in the opposite direction of the affected limb) may also indicate foot drop.

Foot drop typically affects only one foot. Depending on the underlying cause, however, it’s possible for both feet to be affected.

Foot drop is a complicated condition in many cases including that of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Falling down due to foot drop is a serious hazard.  If you suspect that you are experiencing foot drop as a new presenting symptom and live with multiple sclerosis it is important for you to see your neurologist as soon as possible.  As a new presenting symptom you may be undergoing a new exacerbation (flare up) or problem relating to an existing lesion.  Do not wait as drop foot can be a serious risk and is best addressed as soon as it presents itself.

Foot Drop Symptoms:

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